Tạ Phong Tần facts for kids

Tạ Phong Tần, born on September 15, 1968, in Vĩnh Lợi District, Bạc Liêu Province, is a Vietnamese blogger. She used to be a police officer and was part of Vietnam's ruling political group. In September 2011, she was arrested because of her writings.

On September 24, 2012, Tạ Phong Tần was sentenced to ten years in prison. Many groups around the world, like the United Nations and Amnesty International, spoke out against her arrest. She was released early, after about three years. She then traveled to the United States, arriving on September 20, 2015.

Her Journey as a Blogger

Tạ Phong Tần started her career as a policewoman. In 2004, she became a freelance journalist, writing for different publications. Two years later, in 2006, she began her own blog called Justice and Truth.

Her blog became very popular. She wrote about important topics, including problems with police actions. She also shared her thoughts and criticisms about the policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which is the main political group in Vietnam. Because of her writings, she was removed from the Party and lost her job in 2006.

Why She Was Arrested

Tạ Phong Tần was arrested in September 2011. She, along with two other bloggers, Nguyễn Văn Hải and Phan Thanh Hải, had been writing for the "Free Vietnamese Journalists' Club." They were accused of writing things that went against the government. This type of charge could lead to a very long prison sentence.

Many international groups were concerned about these arrests. The United Nations said they were worried about how much freedom people had to express themselves in Vietnam. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, also spoke about the detention of the bloggers. Groups like Amnesty International called them "prisoners of conscience" and asked for their release. This means they believed the bloggers were held only for their peaceful beliefs.

Her Sentence and Release

On September 24, 2012, Tạ Phong Tần was sentenced to ten years in prison. Her trial lasted only one day. The prosecutors said that the bloggers had "changed the truth about the government." They also claimed the bloggers caused worry among people and tried to go against the government. The court decided that their actions were "seriously harming national security."

Phan Thanh Hai received a four-year sentence, and Nguyen Van Hai was sentenced to twelve years. An appeals court later confirmed these sentences. In 2013, a United Nations group found that Tạ Phong Tần's detention was unfair. They said it went against several important human rights rules.

As mentioned, Tạ Phong Tần was released early from her sentence. She left Vietnam and moved to the United States in 2015.

Awards and Recognition

Tạ Phong Tần has received several important awards for her work and bravery. In December 2012, she won a Hellman/Hammett award from Human Rights Watch. This award honors writers who face political unfairness.

Also in December 2012, she, along with Phạm Thanh Nghiên and Huỳnh Thục Vy, received the Vietnam Human Rights Award. In 2013, she was named a winner of the International Women of Courage Award by the US State Department.

During the award ceremony on International Women's Day, US Secretary of State John Kerry praised her. He said she was brave for always asking for better government for her people. He also noted her willingness to take risks for her beliefs. Her life story and writing skills were an inspiration to women in Vietnam.

Her Personal Life

Tạ Phong Tần became interested in the Catholic faith after defending some church members in Hanoi. She then became involved with Catholic groups. She was baptized on June 14, 2009, at Kỳ Đồng Church. Her Christian name is Mary.

See also

In Spanish: Ta Phong Tan para niños